This site uses cookies.
Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site,
while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used.
For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.

No, but I have asked for upfront payment from an established client since it became increasingly difficult to get payment out of him. I would get paid eventually but not after months and months of phoning, emailing etc. Funny thing was that he was quite happy to pay me upfront to get the work done by me!

Subject:

Comment:

The contents of this post will automatically be included in the ticket generated. Please add any additional comments or explanation (optional)

Good faith takes time to develop, so I prefer to put a "credit limit" on first time clients. In other words, I don't accept first time jobs for a value of more than a couple of hundred euros. That's all I'm willing to be out if the client doesn't pay.

To tell the truth, in 10+ years of translating, I've had some late - very late payers, but I've never had a non-payer. (Knock on wood).

Subject:

Comment:

The contents of this post will automatically be included in the ticket generated. Please add any additional comments or explanation (optional)

It is supposed to be one of my 'business policies' to take an advance from first time clients, both individuals and small companies. From the bigger companies, I insist on a purchase order or similar document. Agencies usually don't have a policy of giving advances but I haven't yet had any serious problems because I didn't take an advance from any of them

Subject:

Comment:

The contents of this post will automatically be included in the ticket generated. Please add any additional comments or explanation (optional)

When I’m dealing with a new Customer I usually1) see a sample and we agree all the nuances in advance;2) when 1/2 (or as agreed) of job is done I expect 1/2 of payment;3) having received the check or money I finish the job and let the Customer 7 working days to pay off.

I seldom do ask for advance money - up to 1/2 of the sum, but not 100%.Probably if it’s a single line or a short passage I would have a lunch as the up-front fee

Cheers

Subject:

Comment:

The contents of this post will automatically be included in the ticket generated. Please add any additional comments or explanation (optional)

Jenn MercerUnited States Local time: 18:46Member (2009) French to English

Not from a new client...

May 8, 2009

...but I had a direct client who started having large delays in payment after having previously been a very prompt payer. Several months later, they were finally caught up with all of their payments and I stated that I would not do the final piece of the project unless I received payment in advance. I did receive it and was able to finish the project on good terms. However I will not do any future work for them without advance payment.

Subject:

Comment:

The contents of this post will automatically be included in the ticket generated. Please add any additional comments or explanation (optional)

If I can't find evidence that the business is well established - and the order is worth more than 100 euros - then I ask for a 50% advance payment. Most individuals and companies have agreed immediately. I am certain that the few who refused to make an advance payment were unlikely to have made any payment.

On the agency side, I only deal with firms that have a good BB rating.

Like John Cutler, I have never suffered a non-payer. I like to think that the non-payers tend to victimise the cut-pricers.

Subject:

Comment:

The contents of this post will automatically be included in the ticket generated. Please add any additional comments or explanation (optional)

I've been offered up-front payment from a couple of fellow freelance translators I've collaborated with, but in both cases I told them I was fine with my standard 30-day payment terms.

I think this is probably governed by the same logic as "I wouldn't want to belong to any club that would have me as a member": any client who offers you up-front payment can probably be trusted to pay on credit. Any client who can't be trusted to pay probably won't agree to up-front payment even if you ask.

Subject:

Comment:

The contents of this post will automatically be included in the ticket generated. Please add any additional comments or explanation (optional)